Preview — In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck

In the Shadow of the Cypress

From Thomas Steinbeck, son of novelist John Steinbeck, comes a thrilling story ofa group of Chinese immigrants in turn of the century California.From Thomas Steinbeck, son of novelist John Steinbeck, comes a thrilling story of a group of Chinese immigrants in turn of the century California....more

Community Reviews

In the Shadow of the Cypress is an unusual and engrossing read. The book is told from three points of view: that of Dr. Charles Gilbert, a professor at Stanford University in 1906, that of his contemporary, Dr. Lao-Hong, a Harvard-educated Chinese who takes an active role assisting the Chinese community, and that of Charles Lucas, a graduate student at Stanford in the present. At the center of the book is a mystery of unique Chinese artifacts that were first discovered in Northern California inIn the Shadow of the Cypress is an unusual and engrossing read. The book is told from three points of view: that of Dr. Charles Gilbert, a professor at Stanford University in 1906, that of his contemporary, Dr. Lao-Hong, a Harvard-educated Chinese who takes an active role assisting the Chinese community, and that of Charles Lucas, a graduate student at Stanford in the present. At the center of the book is a mystery of unique Chinese artifacts that were first discovered in Northern California in 1906, at a time that Chinese immigrants are marginalized.

The novel begins with the narrative of Dr. Charles E. Gilbert, a professor of marine biology at Stanford. As Gilbert describes life in Northern California during the early 1900s, he sympathizes with the local Chinese as they face open discrimination and attacks on China Point. Gilbert learns about the discovery of unique Chinese artifacts and his fascination with the mysterious artifacts leads him to a great mystery.

Then the novel the impact that the artifacts have on the local Chinese community from the point of view of Dr. Lao-Hong, a contemporary of Dr. Gilbert's. Dr. Lao-Hong is a Harvard graduate and well respected member of the Chinese community. Born, raised and educated in America, Dr. Lao-Hong often shares a "semi-Western sensibility" and often feels torn between two cultures. In a society where family ties and connections are of critical importance, Dr. Long-Hong is fortunate in his family and clan; he is nephew to two highly respected directors of the powerful Three Corporations. As the representative of Three Corporations, Dr. Lao-Hong tasked with balancing conflicting claims over the artifacts that would respect the people and town where the artifacts were discovered, the local tongs and his clan, and the interests of Mainland China.

When as a student at Stanford, Luke comes across Dr. Gilbert's notes on the artifacts and he immediately recognizes the importance of this groundbreaking discovery. Luke tries to decipher the symbols and enlists the expertise of Robert Wu, a Chinese American PhD candidate. Working together and aided by cutting edge technology, Luke and Robert decipher the mysteries of the ancient Chinese artifacts.

Thomas Steinbeck's In the Shadow of the Cypress is a well-crafted and fascinating read. The mystery of the artifacts drew me in but I found the descriptions of Dr. Lao-Hong and the Chinese communities to be the best part of the book. Steinbeck weaves an intriguing tale and offers a sympathetic look at a hidden culture.

This book starts out with Dr. Charles Lucas; Department of Marine Studies at the Stanford University reading a diary entry dated 1906 written by Dr. Charles H. Gilbert. Dr. Gilbert was a Stanford professor of Marine Biology. Readers are transported back in time through Dr. Gilbert’s diary entries to a time when the Chinese were considered outsiders but who had lots of mystery surrounding them. The Chinese had many priceless artifacts in their possession like jade. Dr. Gilbert shares about his diThis book starts out with Dr. Charles Lucas; Department of Marine Studies at the Stanford University reading a diary entry dated 1906 written by Dr. Charles H. Gilbert. Dr. Gilbert was a Stanford professor of Marine Biology. Readers are transported back in time through Dr. Gilbert’s diary entries to a time when the Chinese were considered outsiders but who had lots of mystery surrounding them. The Chinese had many priceless artifacts in their possession like jade. Dr. Gilbert shares about his discover of some of the wonderful items he uncovered but what happens later when the items are forgotten? Only the cypress tree knows the secrets…In the Shadow of the Cypress.

When I first read the summary for this book, I found it intriguing and then when I found out who the author was, I knew I had to check this book out. I have to admit that the only book I read of Mr. Steinbeck’s famous father’s work was Travels with Charley; a story about John Steinbeck taking a road trip with his full sized black poodle. I am in the middle of the road with this book. On the one hand I thought this book was interesting and at times read like poetry but on the other hand I found that it took my a little while to get into the story. The characters were alright but they were kind of like secondary to the story. This book is not character driven but more story driven. The switching between the past to present was a smooth progression for me. Mr. Steinbeck shows promise and talent with this debut novel. He shows that he can make a good name for himself like his father. ...more

I have to admit that when I picked up a copy of this book that I was quite skeptical about what it would be like. After all, anyone who is the offspring of a world-renowned author has huge shoes to fill and high expectations to meet if they are to ever be viewed as anything other than someone setting out to ride their parent's coattails.

So, I started nibbling at the beginning of the book. Then I started to chew, and I found that the story was so interesting and engaging to me that I couldn't heI have to admit that when I picked up a copy of this book that I was quite skeptical about what it would be like. After all, anyone who is the offspring of a world-renowned author has huge shoes to fill and high expectations to meet if they are to ever be viewed as anything other than someone setting out to ride their parent's coattails.

So, I started nibbling at the beginning of the book. Then I started to chew, and I found that the story was so interesting and engaging to me that I couldn't help but devour the rest.

To be completely up front, Thomas Steinbeck's story pulled me in initially because of the geographic setting and locales that he included in his tale. I am a marine biologist by training, and I carried out my PhD field work in the intertidal zone that is adjacent to the Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA, and I have a soft spot in my heart for the Monterey Bay Aquarium and all it stands for. I lived in Santa Cruz for five years and spent at least a few days each month in Monterey/Pacific Grove. I too have eaten a burger at McFly's (just along Cannery Row from the MBA)- and they do up a great burger! I am also familiar with the orient, having lived in Japan for a couple of years, but I claim no special knowledge or insights into China or the Chinese other than to realize that most oriental cultures are MUCH older than ours and tend to have a differnt outlook when it comes to culture, tradition, and even time.

Anyway, what this means is that I was pre-emptively biased in favor of the story as it unfolded. With that said, the author, in my opinion spun an engaging tale that had twists and turns enough to keep me on board all the way to the end...and even through the afterward, etc. I'm now ready to check and see what else he's written.

I liked the characters, their descriptions, and the way the author had them interact with each other. I found myself wishing that the book would run on for 500 or so pages instead of just under half that length.

Anyway, I found the book enjoyable and readable. It never wallowed in gratuitous foul language, sex, or violence, and was, to me, a joy! So no matter what others have said, I really liked it!

Pretty impressive in places. Enjoyed the setting and the method of narration. Some sections seemed heavy-handed, but overall they held together well. Most enjoyed the ongoing connection between John Steinbeck and his son Thomas Steinbeck about the Chinese in CA (loved Lee in East of Eden).

Thomas Steinbeck definitely inherited his dad's writing gene. The story begins in 1906 when, after the big quake that shook California, Chinese artifacts are discovered buried beneath a Cypress tree along the Monterrey coast. The man who finds them brings them to his employer, Dr. Gilbert. The two go on to try and uncover just what they have found. Dr. Gilbert believes the artifacts might prove that the Chinese had explored the Americas long before Christopher Columbus. Unfortunately, through ciThomas Steinbeck definitely inherited his dad's writing gene. The story begins in 1906 when, after the big quake that shook California, Chinese artifacts are discovered buried beneath a Cypress tree along the Monterrey coast. The man who finds them brings them to his employer, Dr. Gilbert. The two go on to try and uncover just what they have found. Dr. Gilbert believes the artifacts might prove that the Chinese had explored the Americas long before Christopher Columbus. Unfortunately, through circumstances the artifacts are lost. The story then picks up a century later when a student stumbles onto Dr. Gilbert's original notes. So begins the new adventure to understand what was found and where the artifacts could be. A great story told by a master story-teller....more

IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS by Thomas Steinbeck was certainly an interesting read. First following an ancient discovery and then finding out how that impacts the lives of the researchers who come in contact with it, readers are taken through a whirlwind of events that leave the mind excited and energized.

If there is one thing I can say about Mr. Steinbeck’s writing, it’s that he really does seem to have a way of instilling life into this book. It’s easy to get bogged down in a complicated storIN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS by Thomas Steinbeck was certainly an interesting read. First following an ancient discovery and then finding out how that impacts the lives of the researchers who come in contact with it, readers are taken through a whirlwind of events that leave the mind excited and energized.

If there is one thing I can say about Mr. Steinbeck’s writing, it’s that he really does seem to have a way of instilling life into this book. It’s easy to get bogged down in a complicated story, especially when the passage of time is involved. IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS, however, didn’t leave me feeling exhausted as so many long and complex stories do. Instead, it’s like this story woke me up and made me want to learn more. Perhaps that was Mr. Steinbeck’s purpose; perhaps he just wanted to write a really good piece of fiction. Either way, I think he accomplished his goals.

One of the aspects of the book that made it shine for me, was the development of the major players and their personalities. Dr. Charles Gilbert comes to us through his journal, his entries detailing the original discovery of ancient Chinese artifacts found on Californian soil possibly before the introduction of Spanish explorers. What could this mean for our history? The implications of this are immense and Mr. Steinbeck fully utilizes this to add tension and suspense to the story.

Mr. Steinbeck develops the story in a two-part fashion. The first part focuses on the discovery of the artifacts while the second part follows Luke and Robert through the discovery of Dr. Gilbert’s journal and their research to discover the truth. Could it be true? Did the artifacts arrive before the Spanish explorers? You’ll just have to read and find out.

The most addicting part of this book is the intrigue. As soon as you really get into Dr. Gilbert’s journal entries, it’s hard to remember that this is in fact fiction. Mr. Steinbeck has a great way of making the reader feel like a part of the story and this is what drew me in....more

Author Thomas Steinbeck's "In The Shadow of the Cypress" shows him to be an outstanding heir to his father's literary legacy.

Steinbeck the younger presents a tale that starts in Monterey's Chinatown in 1906. Dr. Charles Gilbert, of the Hopkins Marine Station, writes a journal about some artifacts found buried at the base of a cypress: a carved jade seal with an imperial "chop" and a navigational tablet -- items which may just prove that the Chinese explored the West Coast before the Spanish. HisAuthor Thomas Steinbeck's "In The Shadow of the Cypress" shows him to be an outstanding heir to his father's literary legacy.

Steinbeck the younger presents a tale that starts in Monterey's Chinatown in 1906. Dr. Charles Gilbert, of the Hopkins Marine Station, writes a journal about some artifacts found buried at the base of a cypress: a carved jade seal with an imperial "chop" and a navigational tablet -- items which may just prove that the Chinese explored the West Coast before the Spanish. His inroads and efforts to learn about the objects take him through the inner workings of the Chinese culture in the area. Eventually, the local Chinese authorities decide that the artifacts are best preserved by selling them to one of San Francisco's Chinese family corporations. Gilbert makes some rubbings and takes photographs of the items prior to them being boxed up, carefully sealed in wax, and put on a steam ship to San Francisco (railroads had not yet been connected to San Francisco after the earthquake). The steam ship goes down after an explosion and the artifacts are lost.

Cut forward to 1998, when Charles Lucas is a marine biology student on an internship at the Hopkins Station. He finds Gilbert's papers and, with the assistance of his linguist and computer scientist friend Robert Wu, determines to solve the mystery of what happened to these valuable items. Wu translates the writing on the base of the seal while Lucas explores Gilbert's journals on the sly. He's been assigned to clean up the files at Hopkins Station, not start a treasure hunt.

Steinbeck draws you into the story with beautiful details and imagery. Like his father before him, he creates a scene filled with fascinating characters and interesting stories. Not to be missed by those who are interested in California history....more

This book is a multigenerational saga of mysterious treasures and information. It reads like a journal in some spots and more like fact than fiction.

My initial reaction to the book wasn’t overly positive. It seemed somewhat dry and boring. The style was almost contrary to excitement. The story turned out to be interesting and thought provoking. I’m fond of history so I ended up enjoying the story as it read like history. It is speculative fictionIn The Shadow of The Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck

This book is a multigenerational saga of mysterious treasures and information. It reads like a journal in some spots and more like fact than fiction.

My initial reaction to the book wasn’t overly positive. It seemed somewhat dry and boring. The style was almost contrary to excitement. The story turned out to be interesting and thought provoking. I’m fond of history so I ended up enjoying the story as it read like history. It is speculative fiction that has a historic feel to it

Several characters could have received more attention. I felt there were stories inferred but left unsaid. There is very little action or adventures if you are seeking that seek elsewhere. If you are looking for a well thought out story with solid prose and an historic flavor, this may be the book for you.

From my blog...In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck is a unique story told primarily through the journal entries of Dr. Charles H. Gilbert beginning with the China Point fire of 1906. China Point was a fishing village and will prove later in the novel to be a pivotal point of mystery and intrigue. Before that point the reader is taken back to when Dr. Gilbert first became acquainted with and hired, William "Red Billy" O'Flynn to work one day a week at Hopkins Laboratory. Dr. GilbertFrom my blog...In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck is a unique story told primarily through the journal entries of Dr. Charles H. Gilbert beginning with the China Point fire of 1906. China Point was a fishing village and will prove later in the novel to be a pivotal point of mystery and intrigue. Before that point the reader is taken back to when Dr. Gilbert first became acquainted with and hired, William "Red Billy" O'Flynn to work one day a week at Hopkins Laboratory. Dr. Gilbert finds it noteworthy that O'Flynn has been accepted into the Chinese community completely. One day O'Flynn makes an extraordinary find when helping to fell a 400-year-old Cypress. He shows these finds to Dr. Gilbert who is allowed to take rubbings of the markings to send off to Stanford for translation. These findings could indeed shake the very foundation of who first discovered North America. Around this time, O'Flynn tells Dr. Gilbert he has been offered full employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad and while he would rather not return to their employ, it is too great an opportunity to pass up. At this point the story begins to truly take off and the reader is taken on a winding path of a complex, exciting, and multi-generational plot. In the Shadow of the Cypress is an excellently written novel, a bit difficult to get into, but worth persevering, especially if one enjoys a clever story line told over a large span of time, culture, and history....more

I borrowed this book from my Public Library, with hopes (encouraged by the jacket flap info) of having an interesting story and presentation.

I was disappointed.

The story is in two parts, with the historical segment of finding artifacts near the Pacific Grove Chinese community in 1906. The interest, consternation and subsequent handling of the items covers the first half of the book. Then is the contemporary story of Charles (Luke) Lucas who stumbles upon some of the 1906 information and begins h

I borrowed this book from my Public Library, with hopes (encouraged by the jacket flap info) of having an interesting story and presentation.

I was disappointed.

The story is in two parts, with the historical segment of finding artifacts near the Pacific Grove Chinese community in 1906. The interest, consternation and subsequent handling of the items covers the first half of the book. Then is the contemporary story of Charles (Luke) Lucas who stumbles upon some of the 1906 information and begins his own quest to learn more.

Steinbeck is an articulate wordsmith. More than 80% of the first segment is narration. But with narrative writing, I expect to be tantalized by creative prose. It didn't happen. Throughout the book, the prose was very dry and journalistic, with such time-worn phrases as, on page 179, "the rain started to come down in buckets..." (A phrase I've always had trouble imagining). The "main" character, Lucas, was fairly flat. The descriptions of the 1906 Chinese community are intriguing, although they have a NatGeo feel about them.

I also found the early time presentation troublesome. The first section presents journal entries from Dr. Charles Gilbert. The first date is in June 1906 when a fire rages through the Chinese community; but the rambling length gives details about events that happened much earlier (such as the April San Francisco Earthquake)--information I would think a true journal keeper would have imparted closer to the time events occurred. The next Gilbert "entries" are from late in the year, with more information on artifacts and the Chinese community. Then there's the shift to 1906 and character Dr. Lao-Hong. The events his segment tells are in June 1906--the ones written by Gilbert in November.

I did like the art work and proverbs that separated the different sections

What I perceive as an editorial glitch is the Prologue and Epilogue that aren't part of the story; they are Thomas Steinbeck's comments on his background and life. Both are in first person, and I assumed, when reading the Prologue, I was reading about one of the book's characters. NOT. Perhaps Foreword and Afterword would have been better labels

Why did I keep reading this book when I was so dissatisfied? I kept wanting something to happen. I knew the answer to the slight mystery by page 100, so I wanted the characters, especially Charles Lucas, to come alive and offer me something. (sigh) Oh, well; maybe the next book

For those who love well written and lyrical novels built around historical events, Thomas Steinbecks IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS will provide several hours of reading pleasure as well as a captivating and informative history lesson.

His tale begins with the recovery of ancient Chinese artifacts accidently unearthed in the vicinity of Monterey Bay, California circa 1906. This discovery provides the foundation for this illuminating chronicle that not only tells of the lives of Chinese immigrantsFor those who love well written and lyrical novels built around historical events, Thomas Steinbecks IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS will provide several hours of reading pleasure as well as a captivating and informative history lesson.

His tale begins with the recovery of ancient Chinese artifacts accidently unearthed in the vicinity of Monterey Bay, California circa 1906. This discovery provides the foundation for this illuminating chronicle that not only tells of the lives of Chinese immigrants of that era but also seems to indicate that the Chinese were visitors to U.S. soil in the early 1400’s, and preceded not only Columbus’s voyage but even his birth.

The discovery is duly recorded both photographically and via written documents by Doctor Charles Gilbert and stored at Stanford Universities Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove.

Fast forward almost 100 years to 1998. Charles (Luke) Lucas, a student assigned to clean out an old storage vault at the University stumbles on the artifact documentation in an old trunk and with the assistance of Dr. Robert Wu begins an adventure of re-discovery.

I am relatively confident that Mr. Steinbeck is familiar with a 2003 novel written by retired British Royal Navy Captain named Gavin Menzies titled 1421: The Year China Discovered America because on pages 149-150 of his book he offers the following “One of the more interesting books Luke had ordered was authored by a retired British naval officer who made broad but well founded claims the Zhou Man had indeed visited the West Coast of North America”. This is only one portion of the paragraph and I mention Mr. Menzies book only to provide some additional documentation should you find this entire premise one you wish to pursue further.

In this reader’s humble opinion, Thomas Steinbeck’s novel is a shining example of thought provoking storytelling. He not only captures the essence of the Chinese beliefs and traditions, he also provides his readers with a great deal of food for thought. If I had one complaint it would have to be with the ending which seemed rather abrupt. After 200+ pages of build up, every aspect of the story from the disposition of the artifacts to the careers and personal lives of all the characters were wrapped up in about 10 pages. Nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable read.

I wasn't sure when I started to read this book, whether I would like it or not. It's not my usual genre. I only read it because it's what I was sent to read for the Library's Readers Choice program. I work at Magna Library and as staff, we get to read books they are considering for Reader's Choice. Even though it wasn't Sci-Fi/Fantasy, I decided to read it. AM I glad I made that choice. What a unique gem of a book! It begins in the early 1900s with a Professor at a University in Northern CaliforI wasn't sure when I started to read this book, whether I would like it or not. It's not my usual genre. I only read it because it's what I was sent to read for the Library's Readers Choice program. I work at Magna Library and as staff, we get to read books they are considering for Reader's Choice. Even though it wasn't Sci-Fi/Fantasy, I decided to read it. AM I glad I made that choice. What a unique gem of a book! It begins in the early 1900s with a Professor at a University in Northern California being given the chance to research some unusual artifacts found under an Ancient Cypress tree in Monterey, California, that was blown down by some heavy winds. There is a mystery to unravel and he does his best, but things get out of his hands. It then jumps to our time, and tells how a young man discovers the files of the professor and starts to research the information and finds he needs help!I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's kind of in an old style, but very charming in it's telling! I would recommend this to anyone!...more

Really enjoyed this book! Was very informative and made one ask questions about who really did explore North America first, China or Spain.

As a Californian who enjoys visiting the Monterey Peninsula Area it was great to heard about areas I have visited, and the possibilty that an ancient fleet from China could have explored this area in the 1400s and planted the famous Cypress.

This book by Thomas Steinbeck tells a fictious story about the finding of a tablet and offical jade seal in 1906 that waReally enjoyed this book! Was very informative and made one ask questions about who really did explore North America first, China or Spain.

As a Californian who enjoys visiting the Monterey Peninsula Area it was great to heard about areas I have visited, and the possibilty that an ancient fleet from China could have explored this area in the 1400s and planted the famous Cypress.

This book by Thomas Steinbeck tells a fictious story about the finding of a tablet and offical jade seal in 1906 that was buried hundreds of years ago under a Cypress tree just outside Monterey. These objects left by the fleet captain on a discovery mission from China, are both a blessing and hinderence to the local Chinese community and the one established in San Francisco. The San Fracisco elders during this time see this proof of exploration as a reason for the local white society to increase their racism, and will only bring trouble so they want to send them back to China. While the local Monterey elders see these objects as good luck charms for their local fishermen. A young Harvard educated intermediary then devises a plan that will save face for both groups. This young man never shares his secret, but 90 years later his great-great grandson (a linguist at Stanford University) is called on to translate text taken from imprints found in an attic at the old marine biology lab in Monterey. He and a friend then attempt to locate the items....more

In the Shadow of the Cypress is a two-part story. The first details the discovery of ancient artifacts that seem to show that the Chinese had actually arrived on California soil way before the Spanish did, with the fleet that the Ming emperor Zhu Di sent out to explore the world. The grand admiral heading this expedition is none other than Zheng He, whom I like to imagine is an ancestor in my family tree... Yes, I have a very active and fertile imagination! Now, to find someone who can look up aIn the Shadow of the Cypress is a two-part story. The first details the discovery of ancient artifacts that seem to show that the Chinese had actually arrived on California soil way before the Spanish did, with the fleet that the Ming emperor Zhu Di sent out to explore the world. The grand admiral heading this expedition is none other than Zheng He, whom I like to imagine is an ancestor in my family tree... Yes, I have a very active and fertile imagination! Now, to find someone who can look up and translate those ancestor lists...

The journal entries of a Dr. Charles Gilbert, a marine biologist at Stanford University's Hopkins Station in Pacific Grove, California, captures the initial discovery of the artifacts, albeit second-hand. The story then transfers into the purview of an American-born Chinese, Dr. Lao Hong, who is responsible for negotiating for custody of the artifacts on the behalf of a more important, more prestigious tong. Not only would they be better able to protect the artifacts, but ownership would amplify their prestige and power.

Part II of In the Shadow of the Cypress starts off with a Chinese Proverb: wisdom is not a birthright, it is a treasured inheritance. Can I say I love this? Ok, back on track. The second half takes place ninety-three years later, when young Charles Lucas (known as Luke) discovers Dr. Gilbert's trunk in the musty attic of the Hopkins Station. Upon reading Dr. Gilbert's journal, Luke is obsessed with finding out if the Chinese truly did make landfall before the Spanish did. He enlists the help of Dr. Robert Wu to translate the ancient Chinese characters, and the two form a close friendship.

We run into some coincidences here, with Robert's ancestor being none other than Dr. Lao Hong, and his father heading the modern incarnation of the Three Corporations, the tong that had paid for the artifacts back in 1906. And the story itself progresses quickly from conjecture to research to launching a search team. No, I'm not going to tell you how this ends. Read this for a nifty look at historical events that are likely true, but not taught as such....more

I delved into this novel with much anticipation and found it enjoyable on several levels. Being a great fan of Thomas' father John made this a must read. Visiting Steinbeck country back in 2007 furthered my interest because I was familiar with the setting. My attention was piqued with the wealth of historical information regarding Chinese culture in California. The novel's premise of the Chinese exploring and assimilating into native American culture before Columbus is certainly intriguing and wI delved into this novel with much anticipation and found it enjoyable on several levels. Being a great fan of Thomas' father John made this a must read. Visiting Steinbeck country back in 2007 furthered my interest because I was familiar with the setting. My attention was piqued with the wealth of historical information regarding Chinese culture in California. The novel's premise of the Chinese exploring and assimilating into native American culture before Columbus is certainly intriguing and worthy of further exploration. The story line centers around ancient Chinese artifacts, while covering a timeline of several centuries to culminate with the use of modern technology as a tool to recover provides a great plot. Steinbeck's prose flowed for me and turned this into a quick and easy read. So by now you must be wondering: why the three? I just felt the characters a bit too tidy. Early on we are presented with one of the story's many protagonists "Red Billy' O'Flynn. Billy has a nice level of emotional depth and complicity that draws the reader in. It just felt that many of the long line of characters thereafter would have drawn me in had they too been more deeply probed. Thus the novel flowed quickly and all solutions fell neatly into place. Nice read, but a little too tidy for me....more

This book gave me mixed feelings. The first and middle portion of the book was very fascinating, well depicted and very detailed. The last portion was not as well written in my opinion. Still it was good, but not as good as the previous sections. The characters from the first two sections were very well described, I felt like I knew them personally. The characters in the last section however, made me think differently about them and I couldn’t relate as well. The second section of this book wasThis book gave me mixed feelings. The first and middle portion of the book was very fascinating, well depicted and very detailed. The last portion was not as well written in my opinion. Still it was good, but not as good as the previous sections. The characters from the first two sections were very well described, I felt like I knew them personally. The characters in the last section however, made me think differently about them and I couldn’t relate as well. The second section of this book was by far my favorite. It expressed a lot of the Chinese culture and was very descriptive in some scenes. For example, my favorite part was when Dr. Lao-Hong went to see the fishermen draw-in squid. The book describes a night scene with thousands of lanterns floating the ocean and even more squid swimming under. It was truly a beauty in my head. I also could imagine the fisherman cooking the squid right as they were caught from the water. That part actually made my mouth water! I would give this book a 7/10. It was overall a good read and contained a lot fascinating facts about older Chinese culture. ...more

There are familiar aspects to this novel. Monterey. Marine biology. Affection for the Chinese. An assortment of odd characters. These I anticipated, given the author’s name and relationship.

The plot also attracted me. A scientific treasure hunt which could overturn centuries of smug certainty and reveal great historical mysteries. This was the promise.

Steinbeck tells his story in three voices. First we have the viewpoint of the scientist, Dr. Charles Gilbert who accidently stumbles onto the secrThere are familiar aspects to this novel. Monterey. Marine biology. Affection for the Chinese. An assortment of odd characters. These I anticipated, given the author’s name and relationship.

The plot also attracted me. A scientific treasure hunt which could overturn centuries of smug certainty and reveal great historical mysteries. This was the promise.

Steinbeck tells his story in three voices. First we have the viewpoint of the scientist, Dr. Charles Gilbert who accidently stumbles onto the secret which has been hidden from scholars for centuries. Second we have the account of the erudite Chinese businessman who is charged with concealing the secret once more. And, finally in modern times, the quest of a pair of young scholars who employ the latest technology in a search for the missing artifacts.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing is good. The plot is more than a little interesting. But the pace is slow, languorous; I kept wanting to page ahead and see what happens. And the characters—they are like someone met on a walk, acknowledged but not really known. Some of the lesser characters are intriguing and I wish he’d given us more of them—O’Flynn, for instance, or Lady Yee.

I really wanted to like this novel. I felt the final third was the most interesting section of the novel. But that, too, finally just petered out and left me wanting more.

In the last third of the book, I was trying to figure out why the pacing seemed so strange. The plot was moving along, the events were interesting, but it still felt like nothing was happening. I then realized that we were straightforwardly moving towards the resolution of the puzzle, and no one was trying to keep this from happening!

I'm not sure that this is good or bad. It makes for a very intellectual plot, and there is no "thriller" aspect toHow odd-- a hidden treasure novel with no villain.

In the last third of the book, I was trying to figure out why the pacing seemed so strange. The plot was moving along, the events were interesting, but it still felt like nothing was happening. I then realized that we were straightforwardly moving towards the resolution of the puzzle, and no one was trying to keep this from happening!

I'm not sure that this is good or bad. It makes for a very intellectual plot, and there is no "thriller" aspect to the book. I found the early twentieth century Chinese-American politics interesting, the 21st century attempts for find a treasure lost 100 years earlier even more so.

There was one other noteworthy aspect to the book, at least for me. Each of the three sections of the book had a different viewpoint character, and a very different style of writing.

I was very worried as I read the first section-- the voice was extremely stuffy, with a very affected use of big words. It fit the character of the professor in the early 1900s perfectly. It just wasn't much fun to read. It wasn't difficult, just distracting. Luckily, the content kept me going.

In the next section, the voice was much smoother. The story started to slow down, but not enough to be a problem.

In the final section, I was interested in the main character, and the voice was readable. Even though we found out a lot about Luke, I never felt like I really knew him. I'm not sure if he was shallow, or if the portrait we had of him was.

When I first read 1421: The Year China Discovered America I thought there was ample material for a novel or perhaps a series of novels. I thought I'd give it a whirl since I have written a couple of piles of unpublishable pages. Upon more research I found that 1421 was already a novel disguised as history and based largely on supposition. I'll wait for a truly scholarly work on the subject.

When I started In the Shadow of the Cypress I soon realized where it was headed. The book is two parts. TheWhen I first read 1421: The Year China Discovered America I thought there was ample material for a novel or perhaps a series of novels. I thought I'd give it a whirl since I have written a couple of piles of unpublishable pages. Upon more research I found that 1421 was already a novel disguised as history and based largely on supposition. I'll wait for a truly scholarly work on the subject.

When I started In the Shadow of the Cypress I soon realized where it was headed. The book is two parts. The first is set in California in 1906. This part quickly grabbed my attention. Steinbeck is a master of language and wrote in a style that brought the era to life. The story was believable, the characters engaging and the depiction of Chinese-Americans engrossing.

The second part is set ninety years later when documents regarding the first part of the story are found and lead to a search for lost artifacts. This part was largely a disappointment. The writing lacked unique style, the characters were bland, the story unreal and too technological. The endless description of the luxurious lifestyle of one man really set me off. The computer search was a bore.

A little dose of Dirk Pitt and NUMA would have actually helped this book. ...more

For some reason, I have dragged my feet on writing this review. It's been a while, and the book wasn't incredibly memorable in the first place, so I doubt this review will have much relevance. Regardless, here it is...

I promised myself I wouldn't mention John Steinbeck in this review. The work of Thomas Steinbeck should stand on its own; even mentioning that he is his father's son seems unnecessary and insulting to the work of Thomas. Well, I lied.

It's hard not to think of John when Thomas' charFor some reason, I have dragged my feet on writing this review. It's been a while, and the book wasn't incredibly memorable in the first place, so I doubt this review will have much relevance. Regardless, here it is...

I promised myself I wouldn't mention John Steinbeck in this review. The work of Thomas Steinbeck should stand on its own; even mentioning that he is his father's son seems unnecessary and insulting to the work of Thomas. Well, I lied.

It's hard not to think of John when Thomas' characters and situations continually remind us of his father. A marine biologist. Stanford. Just pull ten random words from a Steinbeck biography and you'll likely find one or two which apply to In the Shadow of the Cypress. And frankly, it's an unfair comparison. Nonetheless, it's what one should expect being the son of a Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning author (or writer since Steinbeck didn't consider himself as an "author").

In the Shadow of the Cypress does fairly well when it comes to story. Although it is a bit slow, it carries its own as an intriguing historical mystery. Steinbeck shows that he knows his subject matter well and presents it in an interesting and unique fashion. What Steinbeck doesn't know, however, is his characters. I couldn't understand them, nor did I really want to. They were dry. What personality they did have didn't make sense--am I just stereotyping when I say I didn't find Charles Lucas' concern over a surfboard believable? Charles Lucas, PhD student and holder of one of the world's most historically significant artifacts, just wants to find "the perfect wave." Some of the best character moments happen after Lucas meets Robert Wu and the two develop a friendship which is believable and funny at times. Unfortunately, it doesn't last. Once Wu's father is brought into the picture, the relationship takes a back seat for no particular reason and the novel becomes bland once again.

Thomas Steinbeck might do okay as an author if he is marketed to the right audience. Fans of plot-driven historical mysteries may love his books--I don't know as I am not one of those "fans". As long as he is marketed as being THE SON OF JOHN STEINBECK, however, Thomas Steinbeck will be in the shadow of his own cypress; rather, he'll live in the shadow of the Giant Sequoia that was his father.

(On a side note, writing this review has put me in the mood to reread "To a God Unknown")....more

Yep! You got it right. The author is the son of the famous author John Steinbeck. This is his first novel, published when he was 65. The action takes place in Monterey, CA one hundred years ago and also present times. The basis of the story is a fictional tale of a massive Chinese fleet that explored the Pacific coast of North and South America in the early 1400s. (Check out the book 1421.) Those early explorers planted artifacts with writing in Chinese, Persian, and Tamil describing the fleet aYep! You got it right. The author is the son of the famous author John Steinbeck. This is his first novel, published when he was 65. The action takes place in Monterey, CA one hundred years ago and also present times. The basis of the story is a fictional tale of a massive Chinese fleet that explored the Pacific coast of North and South America in the early 1400s. (Check out the book 1421.) Those early explorers planted artifacts with writing in Chinese, Persian, and Tamil describing the fleet and its travels. These were placed in the roots of a small cypress tree. Five hundred years later this tree is blown down in a wind storm and the artifacts are discovered, and then lost. One hundred years later the search is resumed.

I hope Mr Steinbeck fils writes some more good reads like this....more

I finished this book a few days ago, and as much as I enjoyed "In the Shadow of the Cypress", I found that the characters themselves weren't very memorable. I wanted a more personal feel for the characters with a bit more development - maybe then they would have felt more real, and stuck in my mind more.

The storyline was very interesting with a wonderful historical background rich in Chinese culture. I enjoyed the description of the fishing experience, and could almost smell and taste the food.I finished this book a few days ago, and as much as I enjoyed "In the Shadow of the Cypress", I found that the characters themselves weren't very memorable. I wanted a more personal feel for the characters with a bit more development - maybe then they would have felt more real, and stuck in my mind more.

The storyline was very interesting with a wonderful historical background rich in Chinese culture. I enjoyed the description of the fishing experience, and could almost smell and taste the food. I had wanted more action throughout the story, and found it quite predictable, but I still enjoyed it overall.

In the Shadow of the Cypress was definitely worth the read, and I would recommend it to anyone that loves historical fiction or wants to learn more about the Chinese culture....more

After reading a glowing book review I was looking forward to reading In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck. The book was slow to get into, but enjoyable to read and with a great plot premise I was expecting a good story. It was okay, but ended when it should be getting started with an epilogue that tied everything up in neat 'happy ending' bows. With the exception of the first character, who is introduced writing in his journal and the Chinese Dr., the modern day characters were not bAfter reading a glowing book review I was looking forward to reading In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck. The book was slow to get into, but enjoyable to read and with a great plot premise I was expecting a good story. It was okay, but ended when it should be getting started with an epilogue that tied everything up in neat 'happy ending' bows. With the exception of the first character, who is introduced writing in his journal and the Chinese Dr., the modern day characters were not believable and just did not come alive for me. I did enjoy the descriptions of Chinese culture and life in 1906 in Monterey and San Francisco, and the fishing episode was most enjoyable, but the modern day half of the book felt contrived....more

Had never read this author but figured his father was great so why not try it. As I began was Leary of story but once I began was taken off guard and was totally engrossed in it and found it good read. Also interesting as well. So I guess like father like son. Look forward to reading more of his books.

This is a tale of the consequences of a discovery of Chinese artifacts in California. If I had not already read 1421: The Year China Discovered Americaby Gavin Menzies, I might have been more enthralled by this book. This is the sort of book that rises or falls based on the impact of its ideas rather than its characters or plot. These ideas weren't new to me.

On the other hand, if Thomas Steinbeck does write the novel dealing with the origins of the Olmec heads that he playfully mentions in his aThis is a tale of the consequences of a discovery of Chinese artifacts in California. If I had not already read 1421: The Year China Discovered Americaby Gavin Menzies, I might have been more enthralled by this book. This is the sort of book that rises or falls based on the impact of its ideas rather than its characters or plot. These ideas weren't new to me.

On the other hand, if Thomas Steinbeck does write the novel dealing with the origins of the Olmec heads that he playfully mentions in his afterword, I'd be very interested....more

Dr. Lucas, a Marine Studies professor has possibly com across one of the most exciting finds in his life. While reading a journal written back in 1906 by another Marine Biology professor, Dr. Gilbert. In this diary, Dr. Gilbert writes about the Chinese, who at the time were outcasts. When Dr. Lucas finds the part about some priceless pieces that belonged to the Chinese and the possibility that they were here first. The answer lies in the shadow of the cypress.

The writing is good and I liked thatDr. Lucas, a Marine Studies professor has possibly com across one of the most exciting finds in his life. While reading a journal written back in 1906 by another Marine Biology professor, Dr. Gilbert. In this diary, Dr. Gilbert writes about the Chinese, who at the time were outcasts. When Dr. Lucas finds the part about some priceless pieces that belonged to the Chinese and the possibility that they were here first. The answer lies in the shadow of the cypress.

The writing is good and I liked that part of the book is written in a diary format. I think certain parts could have been shortened but other than that it was a good read....more

Enjoyed it, but it wasn't fantastic. I found it hard to believe that Dr. Gilbert's first journal entry was 54 pages long, but I enjoyed that section of the book the most. The modern-day section seemed to fall into place too perfectly; there were no real obstacles. Luke finds an expert in ancient Chinese texts very easily; he turns out to be the son of a wealthy business man who can provide them with all the money and resources they need, and also ends up being the grandson of Dr. Lao-Hung. ThatEnjoyed it, but it wasn't fantastic. I found it hard to believe that Dr. Gilbert's first journal entry was 54 pages long, but I enjoyed that section of the book the most. The modern-day section seemed to fall into place too perfectly; there were no real obstacles. Luke finds an expert in ancient Chinese texts very easily; he turns out to be the son of a wealthy business man who can provide them with all the money and resources they need, and also ends up being the grandson of Dr. Lao-Hung. That section read too much like a documentary for me. I didn't get any real feel for Luke's or Robert's characters. ...more

It's an interesting story. The ending is kind of disappointing, but not surprising considering what the book is about. My only real complaint is that the story is told. There's very little visual imagery. The reader isn't shown what's going on so much as simply told. That being said, Thomas Steinbeck spends an inordinate amount of words describing food. The most interesting character is the Irishman who finds the Chinese treasures, but sadly, he disappears from the story early on. The book isn'tIt's an interesting story. The ending is kind of disappointing, but not surprising considering what the book is about. My only real complaint is that the story is told. There's very little visual imagery. The reader isn't shown what's going on so much as simply told. That being said, Thomas Steinbeck spends an inordinate amount of words describing food. The most interesting character is the Irishman who finds the Chinese treasures, but sadly, he disappears from the story early on. The book isn't terribly long and is worth the time it will take to read it. Or listen to it, as I did....more

This is a well-written book about an unusual and interesting subject: the idea that Chinese sailors/explorers were traveling along the West Coast of North America quite awhile before the time of Columbus and left buried artifacts along the coastline. The author, Thomas Steinbeck, is the son of John Steinbeck and seems to have much of his dad's talent with words. The story flips back and forth between the beginning of the 20th centery and the present. It is historical fiction with some of the peoThis is a well-written book about an unusual and interesting subject: the idea that Chinese sailors/explorers were traveling along the West Coast of North America quite awhile before the time of Columbus and left buried artifacts along the coastline. The author, Thomas Steinbeck, is the son of John Steinbeck and seems to have much of his dad's talent with words. The story flips back and forth between the beginning of the 20th centery and the present. It is historical fiction with some of the people and events in the book being real, but most are fictional. ...more

I generally enjoy historical novels that teach me something about the background and times. I did like that this was set on the Monterey coast and told the story of a scientific treasure hunt which could overturn centuries of belief and reveal historical unknown facts.

However, the story plodded on at such a slow pace, I found myself wanting to look ahead and see what happened. At first, I didn't think I'd like this at all; then, I decided it was better than I thought it would be. However, it's nI generally enjoy historical novels that teach me something about the background and times. I did like that this was set on the Monterey coast and told the story of a scientific treasure hunt which could overturn centuries of belief and reveal historical unknown facts.

However, the story plodded on at such a slow pace, I found myself wanting to look ahead and see what happened. At first, I didn't think I'd like this at all; then, I decided it was better than I thought it would be. However, it's not a book I would recommend....more